Today, Your Legal Corner will discuss “Tips to decrease the cost of divorce.”

It seems each week there is news of another Hollywood marriage coming to an end. Recently, fans of the TV show “The Voice” learned that two stars of the show, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani were an item after divorcing from their respective spouses. While celebrities can afford to spend big bucks on their divorce, most people rather spend their money on things other than lawyers.

Divorce can be an unexpected event. The end of a marriage may leave both spouses feeling angry, bitter and looking for revenge. Importantly, the more turbulent your divorce, the more likely you’ll see your hard earned money being spent on lawyer fees. However, there are many steps you can take to minimize the financial impact of divorce.

Be Prepared

It is extremely important to do your homework when meeting with your lawyer. Make sure you have all personal data about yourself and your children including dates of birth, addresses, social security numbers and all health information. You should also have all marital information including when and where you were married along with any prenuptial agreements.

Your attorney will want to know about your financial situation including your assets and liabilities, financial accounts and employment information. Importantly, in order to determine whether something is marital property, your attorney will need to know when the property was acquired.

Issue Resolution

The more issues that can be resolved between the parties, the less that has to be litigated by the lawyers. If you have children together, can you decide on a plan to share custody and visitation time? You know your schedule better than the court so it makes sense to attempt to resolve these issues on your own.

How about personal property? Can you reach an agreement regarding who gets what personal property? Resolving or narrowing these issues can significantly reduce the amount you may need to pay your lawyer.

Mediation

If you are unable to resolve certain issues on your own, there is still an opportunity to resolve issues without going to court. New Jersey court system provides for economic mediation such as equitable distribution and support.

Mediators have gone through court-approved training and are required to contribute the first two hours including preparation time at no cost to the parties. Mediation allows the party to create their own agreement and all the proceedings are confidential.

Manage Expectations

The most important consideration in any divorce situation is to be realistic. You need to realize that no litigant ever gets everything they want. Be reasonable and do not blame your lawyer or the court for giving you a “raw deal.” The more cooperative and honest you are with your lawyer, the more likely you will be able to amicably resolve your divorce and move on with your life.

After all, while it may be interesting hearing about the latest celebrity divorce, the goal of any divorce is to simply allow the parties to move forward with the next chapter in their lives!

Till next time, God bless, keep smiling, when Your Legal Corner, will discuss “What you should know about the Legalization of Marijuana.”

Victoria M. Dalton is an attorney with the law offices of Hoffman DiMuzio.

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For more than 40 years, Mr. Hoffman has protected the interest of his clients through diligence and hard work on legal matters, both large and small. An honors graduate of Rutgers University Law School and a native of Gloucester County, Mr. Hoffman has won numerous accolades for excellence in the practice of law.

An attorney with over 45 years of professional experience, Mr. DiMuzio concentrates his practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. A graduate of Georgetown University Law School and a native of Gloucester County, Mr. DiMuzio has been honored time and again for his professionalism and ethics in the practice of law.

About Ernest L. Alvino, Jr. concentrates his practice in the area of workplace injuries; construction accidents; product injuries; trucking accidents; auto injuries; medical negligence and crime victim advocacy. Ernie is a lifelong Gloucester County resident, living in Mullica Hill with his wife and children. Ernie worked his way through school as a Teamster and construction…

About Mr. Atkins joined the firm of Hoffman DiMuzio in February 2010. Mr. Atkins represents individuals and corporate clients in commercial and employment litigation. Mr. Atkins’ practice covers a wide variety of employment-related matters before New Jersey State and Federal courts, with a focus on discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, family leave and whistleblowing claims. Mr.…

About Mr. Bonfiglio concentrates his practice in the area of municipal court with an emphasis on defense of individuals charged with driving while intoxicated and/or refusal to submit to a breath test. Pete resides in Gloucester Township, Camden County with his wife and two of his three children. In addition to his law practice, he…

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